Yes, you can get a credit card with a 600 score, but your options are limited to secured cards and subprime unsecured cards
A 600 credit score is below the range most mainstream card issuers target, but it is not a barrier to getting plastic. Banks and credit unions do issue cards to people in this range—they just charge higher interest rates and require either a cash deposit (secured cards) or accept the risk of lending unsecured at a premium cost. The cards available to you fall into two categories: secured credit cards, which require you to deposit money upfront, and subprime unsecured cards, which don't require a deposit but come with annual fees and APRs often between 24% and 36%.
Your path forward depends on what you need the card for. If you are rebuilding credit and can afford to lock up cash for several months, a secured card is usually the better choice because the deposit protects the issuer and keeps your costs lower. If you need the card immediately and cannot tie up money, a subprime card is available, but the fees and interest make it expensive to carry a balance.
Key Takeaways
- Secured cards require a cash deposit (usually $200 to $2,500) that becomes your credit limit, and most graduate to unsecured cards within 12 to 24 months of on-time payments.
- Subprime unsecured cards charge annual fees of $25 to $99 and APRs of 24% to 36%, making them costly if you carry a balance month to month.
- Both types report to all three credit bureaus, so either one can raise your score if you pay on time and keep your balance low.
- Your score will likely improve faster with a secured card because the lower interest rate means less of your payment goes to interest and more goes to principal.
How secured cards work and why they are often the better choice
A secured credit card works like this: you deposit money into a savings account held by the card issuer, and that deposit becomes your credit limit. If you deposit $500, your limit is $500. You then use the card like any other card, and the issuer reports your payments to the credit bureaus. The deposit sits untouched unless you stop paying; it is not your payment, it is collateral.
Most secured cards graduate to unsecured cards after 12 to 24 months of on-time payments. When that happens, the issuer returns your deposit and converts your account to a regular card with a higher limit and lower interest rate. This is the main reason secured cards are popular for rebuilding: they have a clear exit path, and the lower APR (usually 16% to 22%) makes it cheaper to carry a small balance while you rebuild.
Issuers that offer secured cards to people with 600 scores include Capital One, Discover, and some credit unions. Deposit amounts typically range from $200 to $2,500. Some cards charge an annual fee ($0 to $39) on top of the deposit requirement. Read the terms carefully: some issuers charge a processing fee or require you to maintain a minimum deposit balance separate from your credit limit.
Subprime unsecured cards: when you need credit without a deposit
If you cannot or do not want to deposit money, subprime unsecured cards are available from issuers like Credit One Bank, Milestone, and Surge. These cards do not require a deposit, but they come with real costs. Annual fees range from $25 to $99, and APRs typically fall between 24% and 36%. Some cards also charge a monthly maintenance fee of $5 to $10.
The math matters here. If you charge $500 on a subprime card at 28% APR and pay $50 per month, you will pay roughly $150 in interest before the balance is gone. A $75 annual fee on top of that makes the total cost $225 to borrow $500 for five months. With a secured card at 18% APR, the same $500 would cost you roughly $45 in interest and no annual fee—a difference of $180.
Subprime cards make sense only if you plan to use the card for small purchases and pay the full balance every month. If you carry a balance, the fees and interest compound quickly and work against your goal of rebuilding credit affordably.
What happens to your credit score when you open a new card
Opening any new card—secured or unsecured—triggers a hard inquiry, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points (usually 5 to 10). This dip is temporary and recovers within a few months. The bigger impact comes from what happens after you open the card.
Your score improves when you use the card and pay on time. Payment history is 35% of your score, so consistent on-time payments are the fastest way to move upward. Keeping your balance low (below 30% of your limit) also helps, because credit utilization is 30% of your score. With a secured card at $500, keeping your balance under $150 signals to the bureaus that you are managing credit responsibly.
Most people with a 600 score see movement within 6 to 12 months of on-time payments. You might reach 650 to 680 by month 12, depending on what else is on your report. The secured card's lower interest rate means more of your payment goes toward the balance, which helps you pay down debt faster and improve your utilization ratio sooner.
How to compare cards and avoid predatory terms
When you are shopping for a card at 600, read the full terms document before you apply. Look for these red flags: monthly maintenance fees, processing fees charged upfront, requirements to buy credit monitoring or identity theft protection as a condition of the card, and APRs above 36%.
Compare the total cost of the first year. A secured card with a $200 deposit and $39 annual fee costs $239 to open. A subprime card with a $75 annual fee and a $9 monthly maintenance fee costs $183 in year-one fees alone, before any interest. If you plan to carry a balance, the secured card is almost always cheaper because the APR is lower.
Check whether the card reports to all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Some subprime cards report to only one or two, which slows your score improvement. Reputable issuers report to all three.
The timeline from 600 to better card options
Your score does not have to stay at 600. With a secured or subprime card and consistent on-time payments, you can reach 650 to 700 within 12 to 18 months. Once you hit 650 to 680, mainstream issuers (Chase, Bank of America, Citi) begin to consider you for their entry-level cards, which have lower APRs and no annual fees.
At 700 and above, you move into "good credit" territory and have access to cards with rewards, 0% introductory APR offers, and travel benefits. The difference between a 600 score and a 700 score is roughly 18 to 24 months of on-time payments on a secured card. That is a concrete goal to work toward.
In the meantime, do not apply for multiple cards at once. Each application triggers a hard inquiry and lowers your score. Space applications out by at least six months. Focus on one card, use it responsibly, and let your score climb before you add another.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a secured card hurt my credit score?
The hard inquiry will lower your score by a few points temporarily, but opening the card itself does not hurt you. What helps your score is using the card and paying on time. After six months of on-time payments, the inquiry's impact fades and your score begins to recover and climb.
Can I use a secured card like a regular card?
Yes. You swipe it, tap it, or use it online exactly like any other card. The only difference is that your credit limit equals your deposit. If you deposit $500, you can charge up to $500. The deposit stays in the bank's account and is not touched unless you default.
What if I cannot afford a deposit right now?
A subprime unsecured card is your option, but understand the cost. The annual fees and high APR make these cards expensive if you carry a balance. Use one only if you can pay the full balance every month. If you cannot, wait until you can save a deposit for a secured card—it will cost you far less over time.
How long does it take a secured card to become unsecured?
Most issuers convert secured cards to unsecured after 12 to 24 months of on-time payments. Some do it faster if your score improves significantly. Check your card's terms to see the issuer's policy. When the conversion happens, your deposit is returned to you.
Should I apply for multiple cards to rebuild faster?
No. Each application lowers your score, and multiple inquiries in a short time signal to lenders that you are desperate for credit. Open one card, use it responsibly for six to twelve months, and then consider a second card if you need it. Slow and steady rebuilding works better than rapid applications.