Best rewards for fair credit
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards
Capital One · Unsecured
- Annual fee
- $39
- Purchase APR
- 29.99%
- Deposit
- None
- Min. score
- 580
Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
Approval odds
Fair
What works
- Predictable fixed payments instead of revolving debt
- Lowest APR floor in this comparison
- Genuinely high limit ceiling
What to watch
- Needs fair credit — not for scores near 500
- Not a traditional revolving card
- Best rates need stronger credit
The full terms
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 14.99% – 29.99% variable |
| Security deposit | None required |
| Credit limit | $500 – $25,000 |
| Minimum score | 560+ (Fair) |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Reports to | Experian, Equifax, TransUnion |
| Upgrade path | Balances convert to fixed-rate instalment plans |
| Pre-qualification | Yes — soft pull, no impact to your score |
Who this card suits
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® is aimed at people in the fair range. It's unsecured, so no deposit is tied up — but that convenience is paid for through the annual fee and a higher APR. Check whether a secured card would cost you less overall.
Using it to actually raise your score
- Pay on time, every time. Payment history is the biggest single factor in your FICO score. Set autopay for at least the minimum.
- Keep utilisation low. Stay under 30% of your limit, ideally under 10%. On the starting limit of $500 that's $150 and $50 respectively.
- Don't chase more cards yet. Every application is a hard inquiry. Let this one age.
Before you apply. Rates, fees and deposit requirements are set by the issuer and change often. Confirm the current terms on the issuer's own application page — the figures here were last reviewed 2026-08-24 and are not a guarantee of the terms you'll be offered.
Also consider
Similar unsecured cards
Best unsecured, no deposit
Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card
Mission Lane · Unsecured
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase APR
- 26.99%
- Deposit
- None
- Min. score
- 540
No rewards on the base card
Approval odds
Good
Best for thin credit files
Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa®
WebBank · Unsecured
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase APR
- 27.24%
- Deposit
- None
- Min. score
- 520
2%–10% cash back at select merchants
Approval odds
Fair