Best Credit Cards for a 600 Credit Score of March 2026

Our pick for: Rewards, bonus offer & upgrading

Like other secured credit cards for people building or rebuilding credit, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card requires a cash security deposit. Unlike most others, it offers rewards. But what really makes it stand out from the competition is its upgrade possibilities. The issuer has a process in place for automatically reviewing accounts for possible transition to an unsecured card. Read our review.

Our pick for: Rewards and upgrading

The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card offers an impressive combination of features for those with poor credit. A deposit is required, but in exchange you get a $0-annual-fee card that reports to all three credit bureaus (see rates and fees); an automatic credit limit review after six months; and a possible upgrade path to an unsecured Capital One card. Oh, and 5% back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, plus 1.5% back on all other purchases, which equals what you'd find on many unsecured cards. Read our review.

Our pick for: No credit check + easy account management

This card has no minimum deposit requirement, charges neither an annual fee nor interest, and doesn't require a credit check, and you can automate your payments so you're never late. But to get it, you must be a Chime® banking customer, which is an extra hoop to jump through — and which comes with its own considerations when it comes to customer service. Read our review.

Our pick for: No credit check or bank account

Like the regular opensky card, the opensky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn't require a credit check or a bank account. This card, however, charges an annual fee of $0 — at the cost of a higher minimum deposit and a higher interest rate. Read our review.

Our pick for: No upfront deposit or hard credit check

The secured Self Visa® Credit Card offers a unique path to building credit. Unlike typical secured cards, it doesn't require an upfront security deposit or a hard credit check. But it does make you jump through some hoops that other secured cards don't. You start by making payments on a secured loan, which become savings that you can use for your deposit. It's complicated, but for those struggling to establish a credit history, it can be efficient and effective. Read our review.

Our pick for: Building credit with subscriptions

The Grow Credit Mastercard doesn’t require a security deposit or a hard credit check. It allows you to establish a credit history by paying for qualifying subscriptions like Netflix or Spotify, and it doesn’t charge any interest because you can't carry a balance on the card. You will owe a membership fee, however. Read our review.

Although there are some exceptions, unsecured credit cards marketed to people with credit scores of 600 or lower generally charge high fees and high interest while offering low credit limits. The main advantages to such cards are that approval is usually pretty easy and that you don't have to provide an upfront security deposit. But the fees you're charged in the first couple of years can easily top the $200 minimum deposit on many secured cards. And unlike a security deposit, which you can get back if you upgrade the card or close it in good standing, these fees are gone for good once you pay them.

NerdWallet generally doesn't recommend high-fee unsecured cards, but the choice is ultimately yours. Here are some of the better-known unsecured cards for bad credit:

Getting approved for a card with a 600 credit score is the just the first step toward building credit to the point where you can qualify for better cards with richer rewards and lower rates and fees. Here's a quick guide to your next steps: