What cards will approve you at 600

At a 600 credit score, you are in the range where secured cards and subprime cards become your main options. Secured cards require a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit — typically $200 to $2,500 — and they report to all three credit bureaus, so on-time payments build your score. Subprime cards (also called non-prime cards) do not require a deposit but charge higher interest rates and annual fees to offset the risk to the issuer.

The cards that will consider you at 600 include Capital One Secured Mastercard, Discover it Secured, OpenSky Secured Visa, and subprime options like Credit One Bank Visa and Milestone Mastercard. Each has different fee structures and reporting practices, so the right choice depends on whether you can fund a deposit and how much you can afford to spend monthly.

Approval is not may provide even at 600 — issuers also look at your payment history, recent delinquencies, and debt-to-income ratio. A recent late payment or charge-off will make approval harder, even if your score is 600 or above.

Key Takeaways

  • Secured cards require a cash deposit but typically have lower interest rates and better terms than subprime cards, making them the stronger choice if you can fund the deposit.
  • Subprime cards charge annual fees ranging from $39 to $99 and interest rates of 20% to 36%, but do not require a deposit upfront.
  • Capital One Secured and Discover it Secured report to all three bureaus and have no annual fee, which is rare in this category.
  • Even at 600, recent delinquencies or charge-offs can result in denial, so check your credit report for errors before you explore.
  • Using 10% to 30% of your credit limit and paying in full each month will raise your score faster than any other behavior.

Secured cards versus subprime cards at 600

The core trade-off is upfront cost versus monthly cost. A secured card asks you to lock up $200 to $2,500 in a savings account that the issuer holds. You cannot touch that money while the card is open, but your interest rate is typically 18% to 24% and there is no annual fee. A subprime card lets you start with no deposit, but you pay an annual fee of $39 to $99 and an interest rate of 22% to 36%.

If you can afford to deposit $500 or more, a secured card usually costs less over time. The deposit sits in a low-yield savings account earning almost nothing, but you avoid the annual fee and get a lower interest rate. If you carry a balance, the rate difference matters: on a $1,000 balance, 18% costs $180 per year versus 28% costing $280 per year.

If you cannot fund a deposit or need the cash for an emergency, a subprime card gets you a card number and a credit limit without locking up money. The annual fee hits once a year, and the higher rate only costs you money if you carry a balance. Many people at 600 use a subprime card for the first six months, then move to a secured card once they have saved a deposit.

Cards with no annual fee at 600

Capital One Secured Mastercard and Discover it Secured are the only two widely available cards in this range with no annual fee. Both report to all three bureaus and both allow you to graduate to an unsecured card after a period of on-time payments — usually 6 to 18 months.

Capital One Secured has an interest rate of 19.99% and requires a minimum deposit of $200. There is no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and no penalty APR — if you miss a payment, your rate does not jump. The card reports monthly to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, so every on-time payment counts toward rebuilding your score.

Discover it Secured has an interest rate of 16.99% to 24.99% depending on creditworthiness, a minimum deposit of $200, and no annual fee. Discover also offers 1% cash back on all purchases and 2% on dining and gas, which is unusual for a secured card. Like Capital One, it reports to all three bureaus and allows you to graduate after demonstrating responsible use.

Subprime cards if you cannot fund a deposit

Credit One Bank Visa and Milestone Mastercard are the most common subprime options at 600. Both charge an annual fee and a higher interest rate, but neither requires a deposit.

Credit One Bank Visa charges a $39 annual fee and an interest rate of 19.99% to 29.99%. The card reports to all three bureaus and allows you to build credit without locking up cash. However, Credit One also charges a monthly maintenance fee of $0 to $6.50 depending on your credit limit, which adds up quickly. A $300 credit limit with a $6.50 monthly fee costs $78 per year on top of the $39 annual fee.

Milestone Mastercard charges a $95 annual fee and an interest rate of 16.99% to 27.99%. It reports to all three bureaus and has no monthly maintenance fee, so the $95 is your only annual cost. Milestone also offers a path to graduation — after 18 months of on-time payments, you can request conversion to an unsecured card.

How to compare terms before you explore

Before you explore, pull your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the only free source authorized by federal law. Look for errors — a paid-off account still showing as open, a late payment that is not yours, or a charge-off that should have aged off. Dispute any errors with the bureau that is reporting them. Errors can be the reason you are denied, and fixing them takes 30 to 45 days.

Next, list the cards you are considering and write down the interest rate, annual fee, monthly fee (if any), minimum deposit (if secured), and whether the card reports to all three bureaus. A card that reports to only one bureau will build your score more slowly. A card with a monthly fee will cost you money even if you never use it.

Check whether the card offers a path to graduation. Capital One, Discover, and Milestone all convert to unsecured cards after on-time payments. Credit One does not clearly state a graduation path, which means you may be stuck with the monthly maintenance fee indefinitely. Graduation matters because it removes the deposit requirement or the annual fee, freeing up money or credit limit.

What happens after you open the card

Your first goal is to use the card and pay it off in full each month. This shows the issuer that you can manage credit responsibly and reports a zero balance to the bureaus, which helps your score. Using 10% to 30% of your credit limit is ideal — higher usage signals financial stress, even if you pay in full.

After six to twelve months of on-time payments, your score will likely move into the 650 to 700 range. At that point, you become a candidate for a standard card with better terms — lower interest rates, higher credit limits, and cash back or rewards. You do not have to close your secured or subprime card; keeping it open with a zero balance helps your credit history length and your overall credit utilization ratio.

If you are denied for a card at 600, do not explore again when ready. Each process triggers a hard inquiry, which lowers your score by a few points. Wait 30 days, then explore to a different card. If you are denied twice, wait 90 days and focus on paying down existing balances and making all payments on time.

Common mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake is explore to multiple cards in a short time. Each process is a hard inquiry, and multiple inquiries in 30 days signal desperation to lenders. Space applications at least 30 days apart, and explore only to cards you have researched and believe will approve you.

The second mistake is carrying a balance to build credit. Paying interest does not build credit faster than paying in full. In fact, carrying a balance increases your credit utilization ratio, which lowers your score. Pay in full each month, even if it means using the card less often.

The third mistake is ignoring the deposit or annual fee. A $500 deposit on a secured card is money you cannot use for three months, six months, or longer. Make sure you have emergency savings separate from the deposit, or you will be forced to close the card early and lose the credit-building benefit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a secured card hurt my score when I close it?

Closing the card will not hurt your score when ready, but it will lower your available credit, which increases your utilization ratio. If you have other cards, keep the secured card open even after you graduate to an unsecured card. An open account with a zero balance helps your score.

Can I get a credit limit increase on a secured card?

Yes, but you have to increase your deposit. If you deposited $200 and want a $500 limit, you deposit an additional $300. Capital One and Discover both allow this after a few months of on-time payments. Check your online account or call the issuer to request an increase.

What if I miss a payment on a secured card?

A missed payment will be reported to all three bureaus and will lower your score by 50 to 100 points. Some issuers will not convert your card to unsecured if you have missed a payment in the past 12 months. If you cannot make a payment, call the issuer before the due date and ask about a hardship program or a payment plan.

Do I need to use the card every month to build credit?

No, but you should use it at least once every few months. An account with no activity may be closed by the issuer, which removes it from your credit report. Use the card for a small purchase you would make anyway, then pay it off in full.

How long does it take to move from 600 to 700?

With on-time payments and low utilization, most people move from 600 to 650 in six months and from 650 to 700 in 12 to 18 months. The timeline depends on your payment history — if you have recent late payments, recovery takes longer. Older negative marks have less impact as they age.