Best Unsecured Cards for Fair Credit of 2024
Best For Travel Rewards
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card
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On Credit One Bank's Website
4.7
Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.
Apply Now
On Credit One Bank's Website
Up to 10X Reward Rate
Earn 10X points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel site; earn 5X pointsRead More
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$95
Regular APR
29.99% Variable
Credit Score
Fair/Good(650 - 699)
Our Expert Take
The Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card offers significant rewards on travel purchases, making it one of the top travel card choices for those who may struggle to qualify for premium travel cards.
Why We Like It
The Wander card has a very clear value proposition: if you use it to book travel through Credit One’s travel site, you can earn significant rewards.
Redemption options are flexible, so you’ll have a lot of ways to use the points you earn. You can use your points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise and future travel. You can also access your credit score for free online, helping you track your progress and improve your credit.
What We Don’t Like
Though the card offers strong rewards, they don’t come for free. You’ll have to pay a $95 annual fee to keep the card in your wallet. It also has a very high APR, so you’ll face high interest charges if you carry a balance. Plus, the card is light on additional benefits you’re likely to find on a more upscale card.
Who It’s Best For
The Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card is aimed firmly at frequent travelers. If you book lots of hotels and flights, the rewards this card offers will more than cover the annual fee and help you cover the cost of your next trip.
Expert Commentary
Albert Hsieh
Credit Cards and Reward Points Expert
Albert Hsieh is founder and CEO of Foxtrot Dash Inc., a San Francisco-based travel rewards marketplace offering a smart wallet that recommends 30,000 ways to maximize the redemption of hard-earned credit card and travel rewards points. He has proudly redeemed over 30 million reward points, and he and the Foxtrot Dash team boast over three decades of points and miles experience.
Albert has had a lifelong passion for aviation largely sparked by his dad, who retired after 30 years with United Airlines at San Francisco and Oakland. Since childhood, Albert grew fascinated by premium air travel and flew “The Tulip” (the nickname for United's fondly remembered "U" logo) to destinations far and near, with Taiwan, Japan and Egypt ranked as his top favorites.
With an unwavering commitment to the global travel industry, Albert served for 20 years as a commercial and marketing leader at Fortune 500 travel companies including JetBlue, China Airlines, XOJET and Westfield Airports LAX. He later worked as a consultant for Jet Edge, leading a companywide rebrand before their VistaJet acquisition. In recent years, Albert launched his Instagram feed where he captures his global credit card points and airline miles adventures with impeccable photography of luxury airline cabins and beautiful hotels.
His work is regularly featured in social campaigns, and he has drawn mentions in The New York Times and Nob Hill Gazette. On the Money Seed podcast, he has been heard discussing the future of credit card reward points, global travel trends and loyalty programs. When he's not traveling, Albert enjoys life on the West Coast by seeking out new restaurants and world-class wineries, and by spending quality time with loved ones.
Albert Hsieh
Albert Hsieh
Credit Cards and Reward Points Expert
Albert Hsieh is founder and CEO of Foxtrot Dash Inc., a San Francisco-based travel rewards marketplace offering a smart wallet that recommends 30,000 ways to maximize the redemption of hard-earned credit card and travel rewards points. He has proudly redeemed over 30 million reward points, and he and the Foxtrot Dash team boast over three decades of points and miles experience.
Albert has had a lifelong passion for aviation largely sparked by his dad, who retired after 30 years with United Airlines at San Francisco and Oakland. Since childhood, Albert grew fascinated by premium air travel and flew “The Tulip” (the nickname for United's fondly remembered "U" logo) to destinations far and near, with Taiwan, Japan and Egypt ranked as his top favorites.
With an unwavering commitment to the global travel industry, Albert served for 20 years as a commercial and marketing leader at Fortune 500 travel companies including JetBlue, China Airlines, XOJET and Westfield Airports LAX. He later worked as a consultant for Jet Edge, leading a companywide rebrand before their VistaJet acquisition. In recent years, Albert launched his Instagram feed where he captures his global credit card points and airline miles adventures with impeccable photography of luxury airline cabins and beautiful hotels.
His work is regularly featured in social campaigns, and he has drawn mentions in The New York Times and Nob Hill Gazette. On the Money Seed podcast, he has been heard discussing the future of credit card reward points, global travel trends and loyalty programs. When he's not traveling, Albert enjoys life on the West Coast by seeking out new restaurants and world-class wineries, and by spending quality time with loved ones.
Credit Cards and Reward Points Expert
The Credit One Bank Wander Card offers lucrative points-earning opportunities within key travel categories, however, its extra perks and benefits fall short when compared to other premium credit cards.
Pros & Cons
- No foreign transaction fees
- High reward potential
- Issuer advertises requiring an average minimum credit rating
- $95 annual fee
- No low introductory APR period
- High 29.99% Variable APR
Card Details
- 10X points on eligible hotel and car rentals booked using the Credit One Bank travel partner.
- 5X points on eligible travel including flights, dining, and gas purchases.
- 1X points on all other purchases.
- Rent a car at Avis, Hertz, or SIXT and receive exclusive Amex Card member discounts, complimentary upgrades, and more.*
- Terms Apply*
- See Rates & Fees
N/A
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
4.5
Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.
On Citi's Website
Up to 2% Reward Rate
First, you earn 1% unlimited cash back on every purchase you make. Then, as you pay for those purchases, youRead More
Welcome Bonus
Earn $200 cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Credit Score
Excellent, Good, Fair
Our Expert Take
The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best flat-rate rewards cards out there, offering a simple cash-back rewards structure and an intro APR on balance transfers.
Why We Like It
If you’re looking for simplicity in your wallet, it’s hard to do better than the Double Cash. The Double Cash offers unlimited 2% back on everything (after purchases are paid off), which takes the hassle out of tracking categories. If you spend consistently, this card will net you solid returns. Plus, the card has a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
What We Don’t Like
As a flat-rate card, the Double Cash, naturally, doesn’t have any bonus categories. You’ll earn 2% cash back on everything (after purchases are paid off), which is solid, but is a far cry from some of the rates offered by other rewards cards. If you find that your spending is mostly confined to one category, you will do better with a card that gives more specific bonuses.
While the Double Cash’s intro APR offer is long, it doesn’t apply to new purchases. So should you decide to transfer a balance, you should avoid making purchases on the card until it’s been fully repaid as you won’t have a grace period until then.
Who It’s Best For
If you’re looking for a single card to use for all of your purchases in the U.S., it’s hard to go wrong with the Citi Double Cash® Card. This card carries the highest rewards rate for non-bonus category spending with no annual fee, but it does carry a foreign transaction fee so it’s not a good fit for international use.
Expert Commentary
Julian Kheel
Credit Cards and Travel Rewards Expert
With over 15 years of professional experience studying credit cards and travel loyalty programs, Julian Kheel has served as CNN’s senior editor covering travel and credit cards, as well as the editorial director for The Points Guy, and worked as a consultant for the biggest airlines. He is currently the CEO of Tripsight Inc., an award tools company that recently released Points Path, the first browser extension that automatically adds the prices of flights in miles into Google Flights search results to help travelers decide when to best use their travel rewards.
Julian first learned the ins and outs of credit card rewards and travel loyalty programs while flying more than 200,000 miles a year as a TV producer and director for World Wrestling Entertainment. (And yes, of course it’s all real.) He has previously written about travel and credit cards for U.S. News & World Report, Upgraded Points and Going, and created weekly columns for the travel websites Frequent Miler and Travel Codex.
In addition to appearing as a TV analyst to discuss travel and loyalty programs on national segments for CNN, Bloomberg News, CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Yahoo Finance and Cheddar TV, Julian has also been featured on ABC and CBS Radio, and has been quoted in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Chicago Tribune on travel-related topics as well.
Julian Kheel
Julian Kheel
Credit Cards and Travel Rewards Expert
With over 15 years of professional experience studying credit cards and travel loyalty programs, Julian Kheel has served as CNN’s senior editor covering travel and credit cards, as well as the editorial director for The Points Guy, and worked as a consultant for the biggest airlines. He is currently the CEO of Tripsight Inc., an award tools company that recently released Points Path, the first browser extension that automatically adds the prices of flights in miles into Google Flights search results to help travelers decide when to best use their travel rewards.
Julian first learned the ins and outs of credit card rewards and travel loyalty programs while flying more than 200,000 miles a year as a TV producer and director for World Wrestling Entertainment. (And yes, of course it’s all real.) He has previously written about travel and credit cards for U.S. News & World Report, Upgraded Points and Going, and created weekly columns for the travel websites Frequent Miler and Travel Codex.
In addition to appearing as a TV analyst to discuss travel and loyalty programs on national segments for CNN, Bloomberg News, CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Yahoo Finance and Cheddar TV, Julian has also been featured on ABC and CBS Radio, and has been quoted in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Chicago Tribune on travel-related topics as well.
Credit Cards and Travel Rewards Expert
Not everyone wants to chase bonus categories or shuffle cards in their wallet, which makes the Citi Double Cash the perfect “set it and forget it” credit card. It’s one of the only cards around that not only earns 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, but also offers a path to using that cash back in the form of more valuable travel points down the road when you’re ready to take the next step.
Pros & Cons
- Earn up to 2% cash back—1% when the purchase is made and 1% when payment is made on the account
- No limit on the amount of cash back that can be earned
- No annual fee
- Introductory APR period for balance transfers
- Foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee
- Lack of benefits seen in other no annual fee cards
- No introductory APR on purchases
Card Details
- 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).
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.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Best For No Foreign Transaction Fees
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
On Capital One's Website
4.5
Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.
On Capital One's Website
Up to 5% Reward Rate
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. Plus, earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental carsRead More
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$39
Regular APR
29.99% (Variable)
Credit Score
Average, Fair, Limited
Our Expert Take
A great option for those with less-than-stellar credit, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Cardoffers a gateway to building better credit while earning respectable flat-rate rewards. You may also gain a higher credit line in as little as 6 months from account opening.
Why We Like It
The QuicksilverOne is advertised to people with fair credit, meaning it’s relatively easy to qualify for even if you have limited credit history. It offers a simple rewards structure and the opportunity for the card to grow with your credit with automatic credit limit increases.
One thing that sets the card apart from many similar cards is its lack of foreign transaction fees (rates & fees). If you plan to travel outside of the U.S., this card allows you to make purchases and earn rewards while on your trip without paying extra fees.
What We Don’t Like
The card’s annual fee isn’t huge, but there are a number of no annual fee alternatives for people with fair credit, including options that offer cash back. Unless you’re struggling to qualify for cards that don’t charge annual fees, it may be hard to justify the price. Another drawback of the card is its high APR.
Who It’s Best For
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is best for people with fair credit who have struggled to qualify for no annual fee cards or who plan to travel outside the U.S. and want to avoid foreign transaction fees.
Pros & Cons
- Unlimited 1.5% cash-back rewards
- Fair-to-average credit applicants considered
- No foreign transaction fee
- Rewards don’t expire for the life of the account
- High APR
- No boosted rate in common spending categories
- No welcome offer
- No intro APR offer
Card Details
- 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
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you’re all set
N/A
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Best For Low Spenders
Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa®
Apply Now
On Credit One Bank's Website
4.0
Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.
Apply Now
On Credit One Bank's Website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$95
Regular APR
29.74% Variable
Credit Score
Fair, Good(650 - 699)
Our Expert Take
The Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa® offers an elevated 5% cash back on many categories, but only on the first $5,000 in spending each year, making it appealing to relatively low spenders.
Why We Like It
Most credit cards offer somewhere in the range of 1% or 2% cash back on most purchases, perhaps with one or two bonus categories offering 3% to 6% in rewards. But the Platinum X5 Visa offers 5% cash back on a wide number of purchase types, including gas, grocery, internet, cable, satellite TV and mobile phone service purchases.
What We Don’t Like
Though the Platinum X5 offers 5% cash back on a lot of purchases, the amount you can earn is limited. You’ll only get that rewards rate for the first $5,000 you spend on those categories each year, capping your bonus earnings at $250.
In addition, the card has an annual fee that will eat into your rewards. Its APR is also high, so you’ll pay a lot of interest if you carry a balance.
Who It’s Best For
The Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa® is a good choice for people who are looking to boost their credit and who don’t spend a huge amount on their cards each year. If you can make the most of the $5,000 spend limit for elevated rewards without spending much more, you’ll maximize your earnings.
Pros & Cons
- Issuer advertises requiring an “average” minimum credit rating
- Potential for up to 10% cash back with a selection of retailers
- Several high-value bonus rewards categories
- $95 annual fee
- 5% rewards have a low spending cap
- No low introductory APR period
- High ongoing APR
Card Details
- Earn 5% cash back rewards on the first $5,000 of eligible gas, grocery, internet, cable, satellite TV, and mobile phone service purchases each year, and then 1% thereafter. Plus 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases, terms apply
- With $0 Fraud Liability, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Free Online Credit Score and Credit Report summary, terms apply
- Automatically earn More Cash Back Rewards for using your Credit One Bank card at participating merchants, terms apply
- If you are a Covered Borrower under the Military Lending Act, you may get a different offer
- See Rates & Fees
N/A
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Best For No Credit
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card *
3.8
Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.
Up to 10% cash back
1% cash back on eligible purchases right away. Up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-timeRead More
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% - 32.24% (Variable)
Credit Score
Limited/Fair/Good/Excellent
Our Expert Take
The Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card*, issued by WebBank, is a great choice for people who are just starting to build credit. It offers a cash-back rate that grows over time without charging an annual fee.
Why We Like It
The Petal 2 is aimed at people with very limited or even no credit history. If eligible, a “Cash Score” may be generated which takes into account your income and bills to assess whether you can qualify. That makes it appealing if you’re looking for your first credit card to build your credit. And, unlike many cards aimed at people with no credit history, it also earns rewards.
What We Don’t Like
If you already have a credit history and fair credit, there are other cards that offer better rewards rates. While you can reach the top cash-back rate of 1.5% after 12 months of on-time payments, you can earn 1.5% or 2% right off the bat with other cards. And while the lack of fees is appealing, carrying a balance will cost you significantly with the Petal 2, especially if the interest rate you receive is at the high end of the card’s APR range.
Who It’s Best For
The Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card* is best for people who want an unsecured card they can use to start building credit.
Pros & Cons
- No fees: no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no late fee, no over limit fee
- No security deposit
- No credit check required
- No intro APR offer
- No cash advances or balance transfers
- Applicants with a damaged credit report may not qualify
Card Details
- No late, foreign transaction or annual fees
- Earn 1.5% cash back on qualifying purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments
- Earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away
- Earn 2% – 10% cash back on qualifying merchants
N/A
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Here’s a Summary of the Best Unsecured Cards for Fair Credit
Credit Card
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card
Citi Double Cash® Card
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa®
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card *
Credit Card
Best For
Credit Score
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card
Best For Travel Rewards
Fair/Good
$95
N/A
Citi Double Cash® Card
Best For Flat-Rate Rewards
Excellent, Good, Fair
$0
Earn $200 cash back
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best For No Foreign Transaction Fees
Average, Fair, Limited
$39
N/A
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card *
Best For No Credit
Limited/Fair/Good/Excellent
$0
N/A
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
N/A
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.
N/A
N/A
N/A
