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Reviewed By:
Ashley Davison
Ashley Davison
Editor
Ashley is currently the Chief Compliance Officer for Credit Saint, previously the Chief Operating Officer. Ashley got into the Financial world by working as a Logistics Coordinator at Ernst & Young. Coming from a previous career in education, she is eager to teach the world every...
Your 500 credit score is actively narrowing your options — and raising what you pay.
What you’ll learn: which card types may approve you, what to watch out for, and how to position yourself for better choices over time.
A credit card with a 500 credit score is not out of reach. But the cards available to you at this score level look very different from those available to someone with a 700. Higher fees, lower limits, and fewer rewards are the norm. Some options charge annual fees that eat significantly into whatever credit limit you receive.
The good news: not every negative entry on your report may be accurate. According to the FTC’s study, 1 in 5 consumers have found errors on their credit reports. Those errors may be keeping your score — and your options — artificially limited. Credit Saint specialists review credit reports and may challenge information that appears inaccurate, misleading, or unverifiable with the credit bureaus after client authorization. We’ve got this.
Key Takeaways
20% of the consumers have errors on their credit reports that could be affecting their scores (FTC, 2013).
A 500 FICO score falls in the “poor” range — most premium and rewards cards require 670 or higher.
Secured credit cards and credit-builder cards are typically the most accessible options at this score level.
Credit Saint reviews all three bureaus and may challenge questionable entries that could be suppressing your score and limiting your card options.
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Not sure what’s keeping your score at 500? Start a free credit review — we take a comprehensive look at what’s on your report.
Why a 500 Score Changes Your Card Options
Credit card issuers use your credit score as a primary signal of risk. At 500, most major issuers place you in the “poor” credit tier. That classification determines which products you’re offered — and at what cost.
Most rewards cards, travel cards, and low-interest products require scores of 670 or above. Balance transfer cards with promotional rates typically require 700 or higher. At 500, the cards most likely to approve you are specifically designed for consumers rebuilding or establishing credit.
That’s not a dead end. But it does mean understanding what you’re looking at — and making sure your score isn’t artificially low because of errors on your report.
Card Types Most Likely Available at 500
Not all credit products are off the table at a 500 score. Here are the options most likely to be within reach — along with what each one involves.
Secured cards are the most widely accessible option at this score level. You provide a refundable deposit — typically equal to your credit limit — which the issuer holds as collateral. Because the risk to the issuer is reduced, approval rates are significantly higher. Used responsibly, a secured card may help demonstrate positive payment behavior over time.
Credit-builder cards are unsecured products designed specifically for consumers with poor or limited credit history. They typically carry higher APRs and annual fees in exchange for lower approval thresholds. Review all fee structures carefully before applying.
Store and retail credit cards sometimes have lower approval thresholds than traditional credit cards. However, they typically carry high interest rates and are limited to specific retailers.
Prepaid debit cards are sometimes marketed alongside credit-building products but do not function as credit cards. Activity on prepaid cards is generally not reported to credit bureaus and does not affect your credit score.
What Your Score May Not Be Telling You
Here’s something most card issuers won’t explain: a 500 score may not reflect your actual credit history. Errors on credit reports are documented, common, and disputable. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives consumers the right to challenge information that is inaccurate, misleading, or unverifiable — at no cost.
Credit Saint reviews your reports across Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. We identify entries that may be inaccurate or unverifiable. Our specialists may challenge questionable entries with the credit bureaus and monitor responses throughout the investigation process. You review the findings. You authorize each challenge. We handle every step from there.
This isn’t about disputing legitimate information. It’s about making sure your report accurately reflects your history — because your card options, interest rates, and credit limits all follow from that number.
How Credit Saint Works to Expand Your Options
Better card options become available as your score moves into higher ranges. That’s not a passive process. It requires a thorough review of what’s currently on your report and active pursuit of any inaccuracies that may be affecting your score.
Credit Saint is BBB accredited, holds a 4.8-star Google rating from more than 15,000 reviews, and has been ranked #1 by Money.com, ConsumerAffairs, and CNBC. We’ve served more than 250,000 Americans since 2007. Over 96.4% of clients see results in the first 90 days, based on paying Credit Saint clients from May 2025 who had one or more items removed. Individual results vary.
Depending on the complexity of your situation, our team works with you through the appropriate service level:
Credit Polish — for consumers beginning their credit journey
Credit Remodel — for moderate challenges with multiple reporting concerns
Clean Slate — for complex situations that require the most comprehensive approach
You review the findings. You authorize the challenges. Our specialists work to dispute potentially inaccurate information with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — and we handle every step of the follow-up process.
Ready to find out whether your score is accurate? Start your review today — our specialists assess your reports and may assist with preparing and submitting disputes after your review and authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
At a 500 FICO score, secured credit cards and credit-builder cards are typically the most accessible options. Secured cards require a deposit equal to your credit limit, while credit-builder cards are unsecured but often carry higher fees. Before applying, reviewing your credit report for potential errors is a sound step — inaccuracies may be affecting your current score.
Formal credit card applications typically trigger a hard inquiry, which may temporarily lower your score by a few points. Applying to multiple cards in a short period can allow those inquiries to add up. Checking your own credit report, however, is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score.
There’s no universal timeline — it depends on what’s on your report and what’s being addressed. Under the FCRA, bureaus have 30 days to investigate disputes after a consumer files. Some disputes may show movement in roughly 45 days, though timelines vary based on the bureaus, creditors, and the complexity of the information being reviewed. Over 96.4% of clients see results in the first 90 days, based on paying Credit Saint clients from May 2025 who had one or more items removed. Individual results vary.
Yes. The FTC’s 2013 study found that 1 in 5 consumers have at least one error on their credit reports. A single incorrectly reported late payment, a duplicate account, or a balance reported higher than actual can meaningfully affect your score. The FCRA gives consumers the right to dispute these entries — and Credit Saint specialists assist clients with preparing and submitting disputes after review and authorization.
Start Working on Your Credit Today
A 500 credit score limits what’s available to you — and makes everything that is available more expensive. If errors or unverified entries are part of what’s holding your score down, that’s something worth addressing today. Not eventually. Today.
Credit Saint has reviewed and may challenge credit report inaccuracies for more than 250,000 Americans since 2007. You review, you authorize — our specialists work with clients to dispute potentially inaccurate information with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and we handle every step along the way.
Ready to see what’s actually on your report?Contact Credit Saint today for a free consultation — we review your report and handle every step from here.
Ashley is currently the Chief Compliance Officer for Credit Saint, previously the Chief Operating Officer. Ashley got into the Financial world by working as a Logistics Coordinator at Ernst & Young. Coming from a previous career in education, she is eager to teach the world everything she knows and learn everything that she doesn’t! Ashley is a FICO® certified professional, a Board Certified Credit Consultant, a Certified Credit Score Consultant with the Credit Consultants Association of America, UDAAP certified, and holds a Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Compliance Certificate.
