What Credit Cards Can You Get With a 580, 590, or 600 Credit Score?

A 580, 590, or 600 credit score is generally considered fair credit under the FICO scoring model, which means you may have access to more unsecured credit card options than you would with a lower credit score. As you move into the fair-credit range, you may begin seeing credit cards that are not specifically designed for people with damaged credit, including unsecured cards from major issuers such as Capital One. However, having a fair credit score does not guarantee approval, and each credit card issuer uses its own criteria when reviewing applications.

Capital One, for example, currently identifies several of its credit cards as being for people with fair credit, including the Capital One Platinum, Capital One QuicksilverOne, and Capital One SavorOne. These cards are different from the traditional bad-credit cards discussed at lower score ranges because they are unsecured cards designed for consumers who are building or establishing credit without requiring a security deposit.

You may also want to consider cards such as the Ollo Everyday Rewards Mastercard^® and OneMain BrightWay^® Mastercard^®, which are available to consumers across broader credit ranges. The important point is that a 580, 590, or 600 score can put you in a different part of the credit-card market, where comparing the fees, rewards, and features of the available unsecured cards becomes more important.

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What Credit Cards Can You Get With a 580–600 Credit Score?

You may be able to qualify for unsecured credit cards designed for fair credit, including cards from Capital One as well as other issuers that serve consumers with fair or improving credit. A 580–600 score does not guarantee approval for any particular card, but entering the fair-credit range can give you access to options that may not be available to someone with a much lower score.

Capital One currently lists several unsecured credit cards specifically in its fair-credit category. The Capital One Platinum has no annual fee and is designed for people with fair credit who want to build credit responsibly. The Capital One QuicksilverOne is another fair-credit option and offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase, while the Capital One SavorOne offers cash back on eligible purchases. Capital One identifies all three as fair-credit cards.

These are worth knowing about even if they are not offers available through our site. If you want to see additional unsecured cards for fair credit, you can also visit our fair credit credit cards page.

The Ollo Everyday Rewards Mastercard^® is another card to consider. It is designed for consumers across bad, fair, and good credit categories, and it offers cash back without an annual fee.

The OneMain BrightWay^® Mastercard^® is another option that spans a broader range of credit profiles. It offers cash back and can provide additional account benefits for qualifying on-time payment history.

At this score level, it makes sense to compare the complete card offer instead of simply looking for a card that will approve someone with a low credit score. Annual fees, rewards, starting credit limits, and other account terms can make a significant difference between one card and another.

Does a 580–600 Credit Score Put You in the Fair Credit Range?

Yes. FICO considers scores from 580 through 669 to be in the fair-credit range. That means a 580, 590, or 600 score is at the beginning of a credit category where you may have access to more unsecured credit card choices.

However, credit-score ranges are not approval requirements used identically by every credit card issuer. Your score is only one part of your credit profile. An issuer may also consider your payment history, debt, income, recent credit applications, and other information when deciding whether to approve your application.

This is why two people with the same 590 credit score can receive different application results. The number itself does not tell the issuer everything about the applicant's credit history.

How Can You See What Credit Cards You May Qualify For?

You can use our free credit card tool to see what pre-qualified offers may be available based on your individual credit profile. Rather than trying to determine which card you may qualify for based solely on having a 580, 590, or 600 credit score, the tool can show you multiple offers from participating banks and credit card issuers.

The tool is free to use, and checking for pre-qualified offers does not affect your credit score. This can give you an opportunity to see what offers may be available before deciding whether to submit an actual application.

Pre-qualification is not a guarantee of approval. If you decide to apply for a credit card, the issuer will make the final approval decision after reviewing your application and the information it uses for underwriting.

What Should You Look for in a Credit Card With a 580–600 Score?

When you reach the fair-credit range, don't assume that the first unsecured card you can qualify for is automatically the right card for you. This is a good point to start comparing what each card actually offers.

Pay attention to the annual fee, rewards, starting credit limit, credit-building features, and whether the issuer reports the account to the major credit bureaus.

You should also look at whether the card is actually giving you something in return for its fees. Some cards for less-than-perfect credit have significant annual or monthly fees, while other fair-credit cards may offer rewards or have no annual fee.

For example, the Capital One Platinum has no annual fee, while Capital One's QuicksilverOne and SavorOne fair-credit cards currently have annual fees and offer rewards. The Ollo Everyday Rewards Mastercard has no annual fee and offers cash back, while the OneMain BrightWay Mastercard also offers cash back and additional account benefits.

As your credit profile moves into fair credit, the question becomes less about simply finding a card that will approve you and more about finding an unsecured card whose costs and features make sense for your situation.

What If You Have a 580, 590, or 600 Score and Can't Get Approved?

If you are not approved for a particular credit card, that does not mean you have run out of options. A 580, 590, or 600 score is within the fair-credit range, but individual issuers can have different underwriting requirements.

You can try a pre-qualification tool to see whether other offers are available before submitting additional applications. You can also review our fair credit credit cards page to look at additional unsecured options.

A secured credit card is still an option if you have difficulty qualifying for an unsecured card, but it does not necessarily need to be your first choice once you are in the fair-credit range. At this point, it makes sense to see what unsecured cards you may qualify for before deciding whether a security deposit is necessary.

Most importantly, remember that a 580, 590, or 600 credit score is only one part of your credit profile. As your credit history improves, you may become eligible for additional cards and more favorable terms, so it can be worthwhile to compare your options rather than applying for the first card you find.