Avant Credit Card Review 2025: A Solid Option for Building Credit or Not?
Building or rebuilding credit can feel like a catch, you need credit to build credit. The Avant Credit Card promises a simple, no-frills path to help you improve your score. In this Avant Credit Card Review, we’ll explore the basics, benefits, and possible drawbacks of this card to help you decide if it’s a smart move. Is the Avant card a legit tool for boosting your credit, or are there better options out there? Let’s dive in and find out.
Key Takeaways
- Unsecured Credit Builder: The Avant Credit Card is an unsecured card aimed at people with fair to average credit (typically 580–670 credit score range), with no security deposit required.
- Annual Fee Applies: Most users are charged a $39 annual fee, which is on the lower end but still a cost to consider.
- No Rewards Program: The card doesn’t offer cash rewards, points, or other rewards credit benefits—it’s focused solely on helping users build or rebuild credit.
- Higher Credit Line Possible: You may become eligible for a higher credit line after several months of on-time payments and responsible usage.
- Legit and Straightforward: Despite limited features, the Avant credit card is legit and fulfills its purpose as a basic, easy-to-manage tool for credit building.
What Is the Avant Credit Card?
The Avant Credit Card is an unsecured credit card designed for people with fair to average credit. Issued by WebBank and operating on the Mastercard network, it offers a simple way to access credit and build your score over time. Unlike secured cards, it doesn’t require a deposit.
With a starting credit limit usually around $300, the card offers a modest beginning. Depending on your credit behavior, Avant may offer a higher credit line after several months of on-time payments.
Pros and Cons of the Avant Credit Card
Pros
✅ No deposit required: Great for those who want to avoid secured cards.
✅ Reports to all credit bureaus: Helps build credit with consistent on-time payments.
✅ Prequalification: You can check if you qualify with a soft inquiry that doesn’t affect your credit score.
✅ Mobile account access: Easily manage your card through the Avant app.
✅ No foreign transaction fees: Rare for cards in this category.
Cons
❌ Annual fee: While not excessive, the average annual cost of $39 may not be ideal for everyone.
❌ Low starting limit: With a credit limit often starting at $300, managing credit utilization may be tricky.
❌ No rewards: Don’t expect to earn rewards or cash rewards from this card.
❌ High APR: Carrying a balance can be expensive.
How to Apply for the Avant Credit Card & What You Need
Application Process
Applying for the Avant Credit Card is pretty straightforward and 100% online. First, you can go to Avant’s website and click “Check Your Eligibility”. You’ll be asked to provide some basic information (name, address, income, last 4 of SSN, etc.) to see if you pre-qualify. This initial step uses a soft credit inquiry, so it doesn’t affect your credit score. Within seconds, Avant will show if you’re pre-qualified and for what terms (credit limit, APR, annual fee).
If you like the offer, you can proceed to submit a full application. At that point, a hard credit inquiry will be recorded on your credit report (which may temporarily ding your score a few points). Avant will then do a deeper review of your credit profile and income to make a final approval decision. Many applicants get an instant approval decision, but in some cases Avant might ask for additional verification (such as proof of income or identity documents) or take a little longer to decide.
No Impact Pre-qualify
It’s worth emphasizing again: checking if you qualify is risk-free. This is great because you can essentially “preview” your approval odds and terms. If the offer comes back with a high annual fee or low limit that you don’t like, you can simply choose not to proceed – no harm done to your score. Avant states clearly: “Checking if you qualify won’t impact your credit score.” This lets you shop around and compare without multiple hard inquiries.
Does the Avant Credit Card Offer Rewards or Perks?
As noted earlier, the Avant Credit Card does not offer any rewards in terms of cash back, points, or miles. This is a pure “credit building” card, so the incentive to use it comes from improving your credit, not from racking up rewards. For some, this is actually a positive – the lack of rewards can discourage overspending just to earn 1% back (a trap some fall into). However, if you’re comparison-shopping, be aware that a few cards for fair credit do offer modest rewards. For example, the Capital One QuicksilverOne gives 1.5% cash back (with an annual fee), and even some secured cards now have rewards. Avant is a more old-school approach: no rewards, just the basics.
No Introductory Offers: Don’t expect any 0% intro APR deals or sign-up bonuses here. The Avant Card keeps it simple: you get what you get from day one. This is why we emphasize that if your credit is already in decent shape to perhaps qualify for a no-fee card with rewards, those might be more appealing. Avant doesn’t try to compete on perks; it’s all about offering access to credit to those who might otherwise struggle to get approved.
Avant Cash Back Card? You might have seen mentions online of an “Avant Cash Back Rewards Card.” Avant has, in limited ways, tested offering a version of their card with rewards (for example, some users reported an Avant card offering 1% or 2% cash back and no annual fee). However, those seem to be targeted offers or a newer product variation not widely available to the general public yet. The standard Avant Credit Card – the one we’re reviewing – comes with no cash back rewards. If Avant eventually rolls out a rewards card broadly, that could change the value proposition. As of this writing, consider the no-rewards stance as a given for Avant’s main credit card.
Is Avant a Good Credit Card?
Is Avant a good credit card? The answer really depends on your situation and what you’re looking for.
For someone with a fair credit score (around 600) who wants to build credit and can’t get approved by mainstream cards, the Avant Credit Card can be a useful tool. It’s good in the sense that it offers a legitimate line of credit without predatory fees or tricks. You get to skip the security deposit of a secured card and still build credit via all three bureaus reporting. Many users have used Avant as a stepping stone: use it for a year, improve your credit, then move on to a better product. In that role, the card does its job well. It’s also relatively straightforward: you know you’ll pay a $39 fee, you know the APR is high (so you avoid carrying a balance), and there are no complicated rules. The Avant credit card legitimately helps you establish a positive credit history if you use it responsibly – numerous cardholders have reported credit score increases after months of on-time payments and low utilization, which is exactly the goal.
So, is Avant a good credit card? It’s good for credit building if you need an entry-level unsecured card and understand the costs involved. It’s not good if you’re expecting perks or if you already qualify for something better.
Final Thoughts: Avant Credit Card Review – Is It Worth It?
To wrap up this Avant Credit Card Review: if you’re rebuilding credit and looking for a no-frills, easy-to-manage option, the Avant Credit Card fits the bill. While it won’t offer cash rewards or premium card offers, it delivers on its promise to help users build credit responsibly. And sometimes, that’s all you need.
Whether you’re comparing reviews on avant credit card or diving into an avant money credit card review, remember that every financial journey is different. Choose what aligns with your goals and budget.
FAQ's
The Avant Credit Card is issued by WebBank and managed by Avant, LLC.
It’s a Mastercard, accepted anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Anywhere Mastercard is accepted—online, in stores, and internationally.
- No, you must wait for the physical card to arrive by mail.
No, Avant only allows one active credit card account per person.
Yes, but cash advances come with high fees and start accruing interest immediately.