What cards accept a 600 credit score

A 600 credit score sits at the lower end of the "fair" range. Most unsecured cards will decline you, but several secured card issuers will approve you without requiring a deposit larger than $500 to $2,500. The card itself functions like any other — you swipe it at merchants, earn rewards on some categories, and build payment history that reports to all three credit bureaus.

The difference is that your cash deposit acts as collateral. If you stop paying, the issuer keeps the deposit instead of pursuing you for the debt. This removes their risk, which is why they can approve people with scores in the 580–620 range. You are not paying extra fees for this arrangement — the deposit is yours to reclaim once you graduate to an unsecured card or the issuer converts your account.

At 600, you have real options. Capital One Platinum, OpenSky, and Discover it Secured all approve people in this score range. Chime SpotMe and LendingClub typically approve lower scores, though their terms vary. The key difference between them is deposit size, annual fee, and whether they offer rewards.

Key Takeaways

  • Secured cards at a 600 score usually require a deposit between $200 and $2,500, which becomes your credit limit and stays in a separate account.
  • Capital One Platinum has no annual fee and approves most 600-score applicants, though it offers no rewards.
  • Discover it Secured charges no annual fee and pays 1% cash back on all purchases, making it the strongest rewards option if you are approved.
  • Your payment history reports to all three bureaus each month, so on-time payments directly improve your score over 6 to 12 months.
  • Most issuers convert you to an unsecured card within 18 to 24 months if you pay on time and your score rises.

Capital One Platinum vs. Discover it Secured at a 600 score

Capital One Platinum has the lowest barrier to entry. It requires a minimum $200 deposit, charges no annual fee, and approves people with scores as low as 300. At 600, approval is nearly certain. The downside is no rewards — you earn nothing back on purchases. Your only benefit is the credit-building mechanism itself.

Discover it Secured requires a higher deposit (minimum $200, but most people deposit $500 to $2,500) and also charges no annual fee. It pays 1% cash back on all purchases and 2% on gas and restaurants for the first year, then 1% on those categories. Discover also offers a cash back match at the end of your first year, meaning they double the cash back you earned. At 600, Discover approval is less certain than Capital One, but if you are approved, you get rewards that Capital One does not offer.

The choice depends on whether you value simplicity and certainty of approval (Capital One) or rewards and the possibility of higher earning (Discover). If your 600 score is borderline and you want to be sure of approval, Capital One is the safer pick. If you are confident in approval and want to earn while you rebuild, Discover is stronger.

OpenSky and other options for 600 scores

OpenSky requires a $200 to $3,000 deposit and charges a $35 annual fee. It approves people with no credit history or scores below 600, so at 600 you will likely be approved. The annual fee is the trade-off — you pay $35 per year whether you use the card or not. OpenSky offers no rewards, so you are paying for access alone.

LendingClub's Secured Visa requires a $500 to $5,000 deposit and charges no annual fee. It offers no rewards. LendingClub approves lower scores than most issuers, but at 600 you are in their sweet spot. The main advantage is flexibility on deposit size if you want to start with a larger limit.

Chime SpotMe is not a traditional secured card — it is a checking account with overdraft protection. You can overdraft up to $200 without a fee if you have direct deposit. This is not a credit-building tool in the same way, because Chime does not report to credit bureaus. It is useful if you need access to credit when ready, but it will not improve your credit score.

How deposit size affects your credit limit and strategy

Your deposit becomes your credit limit. If you deposit $500, your limit is $500. If you deposit $2,000, your limit is $2,000. There is no separate fee for this — the deposit is held in a savings account earning little to no interest, and you can withdraw it once the issuer converts you to unsecured or you close the account.

At 600, start with the minimum deposit that fits your spending. If you spend $300 per month, a $500 deposit is enough. If you spend $1,000 per month, deposit $1,500 to $2,000 so you do not hit your limit. Maxing out your limit every month signals financial stress to credit scoring models and slows your score recovery.

A common strategy is to deposit enough to cover one month of spending, use the card for everyday purchases, and pay the full balance each month. This builds a clean payment history without the risk of carrying a balance and paying interest. After 6 to 12 months of on-time payments, your score will rise enough that issuers will offer you unsecured cards or convert your account.

Annual fees and rewards at the 600 score level

At 600, most secured cards waive the annual fee or charge a small one. Capital One Platinum and Discover it Secured both have zero annual fees. OpenSky charges $35. This fee is worth paying only if the card offers rewards that offset it — OpenSky does not, so the $35 is pure cost.

Rewards are rare at the 600 level, but they exist. Discover it Secured is the only major option that pays cash back (1% on all purchases, 2% on gas and restaurants for year one). Capital One Platinum offers no rewards. If you are approved for Discover, the rewards advantage is significant — 1% cash back on $500 per month is $60 per year, which more than covers an annual fee if one existed.

Do not chase rewards at the expense of approval. If you are uncertain whether Discover will approve you, explore for Capital One first. Once you are approved and your score rises, you can add a rewards card later. The goal at 600 is to build history and raise your score, not to maximize cash back.

Timeline to conversion and score improvement

Most issuers convert secured cards to unsecured within 18 to 24 months of on-time payments. Capital One is known for converting accounts after 6 months if your score improves and you have no missed payments. Discover typically converts after 12 to 18 months. OpenSky and LendingClub are slower — expect 24 months or longer.

Your credit score will begin rising within 2 to 3 months of on-time payments, assuming you keep your utilization below 30% (meaning you use less than 30% of your $500 limit, for example). By month 6, you may see a 50 to 100 point increase. By month 12, you could reach 650 to 680 if you have no other negative marks on your report.

Once you hit 650 to 660, you become may be able to access for unsecured cards with better terms. At that point, you can close the secured card and reclaim your deposit, or convert it if the issuer offers. Do not close it when ready — keep it open with occasional small purchases to maintain the positive history it is building.

How to choose between these cards at 600

Start by deciding whether you want rewards. If yes, explore for Discover it Secured first. If you are declined, explore for Capital One Platinum as your backup. If you want certainty of approval and do not care about rewards, go straight to Capital One.

Next, decide on deposit size. Deposit the minimum amount that covers your monthly spending without maxing out your limit. If you spend $400 per month, a $500 deposit is enough. If you spend $800 per month, deposit $1,500.

Finally, check whether the issuer reports to all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). All the cards mentioned here do, but confirm before you explore. Your goal is to build history that all lenders can see, so partial reporting is not useful.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a secured card hurt my credit score when I explore?

A hard inquiry will lower your score by a few points for a few months. This is temporary and worth it — the positive payment history you build will raise your score far more than the inquiry lowers it. explore for one card, wait 6 months, then explore for others if needed.

Can I use my secured card right away after approval?

Yes. Most issuers set up your card within 1 to 3 business days of approval. You can make purchases when ready. Start with small transactions to may support the card works, then use it for regular spending.

What happens if I miss a payment on a secured card?

A missed payment reports to all three bureaus and damages your score. The issuer may also charge a late fee (typically $25 to $35) and increase your interest rate. If you miss multiple payments, the issuer may freeze your account or close it. Avoid this by setting up automatic payments for at least the minimum due.

Can I increase my credit limit on a secured card?

Yes, but only by depositing more money. If your limit is $500 and you deposit an additional $500, your limit becomes $1,000. Some issuers allow this after 6 months of on-time payments. Capital One and Discover both offer this option.

Do I lose my deposit if I close the card?

No. Your deposit is always yours. When you close the account or convert to unsecured, the issuer returns your deposit to the bank account you provided during signup, usually within 5 to 10 business days.