Petal 2 Visa® Credit Card review: Great if you’re new to credit
Great for rewards with no credit history
Annual Fee: $0
The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 650
The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $2,636
Explore more about this card:
Here’s the average credit limit of members who matched their Petal 2 Visa® Credit Card or similar cards.
% of members by credit limit range
The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $2,636, with $1,000 being the most common.
Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their Petal 2 Visa® Credit Card or similar cards.
% of members by credit score range
The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 650, with 763 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.
This content is curated by Intuit Credit Karma’s Editorial team using data from members who were approved for this card or similar cards, or who self-matched this card or similar cards. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse this content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.
Member stats
Updated daily
40%
Average credit utilization (or what percent of the card’s credit limit is being used) of members who matched with this card or similar cards.
41 years
Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.
$83,364
Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards. Note: Income may be estimated for some members by Credit Karma and may differ from members’ actual incomes.
Pros and cons
Image: yesApply with no credit history
Image: yesNo fees apart from interest payments
Image: yesOffers a money management tool
Image: ConAPR on purchases can be high
Image: ConPeople who have struggled with credit may not qualify
Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card review
Updated January 3, 2025
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
Written by: Ben Luthi
What makes the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card stand out
If you’re new to credit, the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card can help you build credit without requiring a security deposit. Here are some of the card’s key features.
No credit history, no problem
Getting a credit card when you have no credit history can be tough. But with the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card, you don’t need prior experience with credit to apply.
Unlike other credit card companies, one of the things Petal considers when determining whether you qualify is your digital financial records — including bank account information.
That said, the card issuer does run a hard credit check when you apply and will consider your credit history if you have one. If you have bad credit due to missed payments, bankruptcy or other negative items, you may not qualify for the card.
Consumer-friendly terms
Many unsecured credit cards for no credit come with high fees, but you don’t have to worry about that with the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card. While you will pay interest on purchases if you carry a balance, the card comes without an annual fee, late fees, foreign transaction fees or any other kind of fee.
On top of that, you’ll get an automatic credit limit increase after 6 qualifying on-time monthly payments. A higher credit limit could make it easier to use the card for everyday purchases without worrying about hurting your credit scores with a high credit utilization rate.
Finally, the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card’s variable purchase APR ranges from 29.24% - 31.24%. If you qualify for its lowest rate, that’s better than some other credit cards designed for credit newbies. On the flip side, the higher end of this range isn’t especially low. If you carry a balance, you could end up paying a fair amount in interest every month.
Cash back rewards, plus a bonus for paying on time
The Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card doesn’t limit its benefits to building credit. It also offers 1% cash back on all eligible purchases, so you can earn rewards when you use it.
Better yet, Petal offers the chance to see that rewards rate rise as you make on-time payments. Currently, six on-time payments brings the rewards rate to 1.25% and 6 more on-time payments brings it to 1.5%.
At the same time, it’s important to remember that any rewards you earn could be offset by interest charges. Keep in mind that it’s often not worthwhile to go beyond your budget just to earn rewards.
What else you need to know
The Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card can offer a lot of value for people who are looking to build credit from scratch. Here are some other details to know before you apply.
- You can check if you’re preapproved before you apply, which won’t affect your credit.
- You can connect other banking accounts and manage your money through the Petal mobile app.
- Petal reports card activity to all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
- You may need at least one active bank account to apply for the card.
Who this card is good for
The Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card offers plenty of benefits and options to people who don’t want to put down a security deposit just to start building their credit.
Thanks to the card’s lack of add-on fees, strong cash back rewards and the potential for a competitive purchase APR, you could end up saving money as you work to build credit. But the upper limit of the card’s APR range is high, so you could end up paying a lot in interest if you’re not careful.
But the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card might not be ideal for people who already have a rough credit history, although they may still be able to get approved for the card. Fortunately, Petal’s preapproval process can help you get an idea of whether you’d be approved without requiring a hard credit check.
Not sure this is the card for you? Consider this alternative.
- Indigo® Mastercard®: If your credit isn’t great, this card may be a good option for you.
Member reviews
Most helpful positive review
October 1, 2023
Petal Happy
— Credit Karma Member
I was approved with a $3000 limit. The card arrived quickly, has been accepted at every place I wanted to use it, and it has made my trip very pleasant and stress free. Thank you.
Most helpful negative review
October 13, 2024
Petal Will Harm Your Credit – They Won’t Back You
— Credit Karma Member
Beware if you’re considering Petal—other credit card companies protect you from unauthorized charges, but Petal will leave you on your own. Most credit cards won’t hold you liable for unauthorized debits; they stand by you and resolve disputes on your behalf. But with Petal, you’re on the hook for charges you didn’t even approve. I’ve had a perfect payment history with Petal for over four years, never missing a payment. But when an automatic subscription I didn’t authorize was charged to my card, Petal refused to support me. They opened the dispute, but after deciding I was liable, they left me to handle the issue alone. Despite the merchant being willing to resolve it, Petal insisted I was responsible. With other credit card companies, I wouldn’t have had to deal with this. They would have ensured I wasn’t liable for an unauthorized charge and supported me throughout the process. Petal, on the other hand, transferred all the burden to me. Even with emails proving I contacted the merchant and did everything right, Petal ignored my efforts and continued billing me. To make matters worse, when I refused to pay for something I didn’t authorize, Petal reported me as overdue by more than 30 days. As a result, my credit score dropped by over 75 points, all for $120 that should never have been my responsibility. Other credit cards protect you from this kind of damage. They understand that unauthorized charges happen and they protect their customers. Petal doesn’t care—they’ll leave you in a situation where you either pay for something you didn’t approve or they’ll report you and wreck your credit. I had no choice but to cancel my Petal card after four years of a perfect payment history. If you’re thinking of using Petal to build your credit, know that one dispute could undo everything. I’ve never had a problem with any other credit card, but with Petal, my credit has been seriously harmed. This isn’t about $120—it’s about what’s right. Petal is wrong, and I would strongly advise anyone to choose a company that values its customers and protects them in disputes. Don’t trust Petal with your credit.