Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card review

Finder experts pick Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card as a 2021 best product for credit cards.

How to apply for the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

Applying for the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is simple:

1. Click Apply now.
2. Fill out the requisite information on each form to complete your application.
3. If preapproved, Petal will alert you and invite you to fill out the full application

How Petal determines your eligibility

Anyone can apply for the credit card, even if you have no prior credit history. That’s unusual for an unsecured credit card that doesn’t charge fees. That said, the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is not for rebuilding poor credit. A history of bad credit or a poor financial history will likely disqualify you from obtaining the card.

Petal will perform a soft pull during the preapproval process and a hard pull during the full approval process. Note the difference between a soft and hard pull.

Why choose the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card over a secured card?

The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is an excellent alternative to a secured card if you have no prior credit history because you won’t need to foot the security deposit required of most secured cards.

Many secured cards can also start you with a credit limit as low as $200. The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card starts at a $500 minimum limit if you’re approved, and a maximum of $10,000.

The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card also offers cash back on purchases. Not many secured cards offer rewards.

Is there a catch?

There isn’t a “catch,” per se. But because the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card doesn’t collect fees, it tries to serve only customers who can responsibly pay their card bills.

Note that you might be required to sync your bank account through a secure third-party when you apply. Petal will have read-only access, allowing them to analyze your digital finances by looking at your income, savings and spending if necessary during the pre-qualification process.

By linking your account, you may be able to find approval in circumstances that you would otherwise result in denial other credit cards. Its intuitive mobile app also allows Petal to help you monitor your spending practices.

Petal doesn’t appear to pad its bottom line through sneaky tactics — for example, it doesn’t spike your APR for late or missed payments. According to Petal’s CEO, the company makes money purely through merchant transaction fees and from consumer interest payments.

What should I know before I apply?

You must be at least 18 years old or 19 years old in AL and NE and a US resident with a valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Information you’ll need

• Full name and contact information
• Residential status
• Annual income, source of income and employment information
• Social Security number and date of birth

What credit score do I need?

You don’t need a credit history to apply for the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card. However, Petal will first check for pre-qualification based on your credit score, so if you have credit history you’ll have a better chance of approval with a fair to a good credit score of 600 or higher.

If you don’t have a credit history, Petal may allow you to link your financial accounts, including your bank information, to prove sufficient income and a responsible history of paying your bills.

Petal 2 benefits

• No fees. There’s no annual, foreign transaction, overlimit or even late fees.
• No credit history required. If you have no credit score or limited credit history, your income and financial records, including your checking accounts and bill payments, may be analyzed to determine your eligibility. You can still apply if you already have a good credit history and you want to take advantage of the card’s generous fee structure.
• Potentially high credit limit. Petal offers credit limits between $500 and $10,000. This range is higher than average compared to similar cards. However, your limit is ultimately based on your ability to pay.
• Cashback rewards. You’ll earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases. To reward responsible spending, that cashback value will be bumped to 1.25% after six on-time payments and 1.5% after 12 on-time monthly payments. The Petal 2 also earns 2% to 10% back at select retailers, including Gap, Old Navy, Casper and more.
• Money-management tools. Download Petal’s associated mobile app to track your spending and upcoming payments. Streamlined information and data through the app gives you a high level view of your finances and spending. You can track all your accounts connected to Petal, as well as schedule payments.
• Set your own spending. Petal lets you set your own spending plan to track over a given time period.

Is “no fees” for real?

Yes. Petal really means it: You won’t pay annual fees, foreign transaction fees, overlimit fees or even late fees when you use this card.

You’re more likely to get approval with a fair to good credit score. Your credit history can also factor into your credit limit, along with the rest of your financial history.

If you want to rebuild poor credit, the Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card would serve you better instead.

Petal 2 drawbacks

• No signup bonus. Unlike many of its competitors that offer signup bonuses or introductory offers, Petal has no such offer.
• No intro APR period. Most cashback cards come with a 0% intro APR period on purchases, balance transfers or both. Unfortunately, that’s one perk you won’t get with the Petal 2.
• No balance transfers or cash advances. Petal 2 doesn’t allow balance transfers or cash advances. You won’t really need balance transfers with this card given there’s no 0% intro APR period. But cash advances can sometimes be helpful in emergencies.

Compare similar credit cards

Petal aims to offer excellent credit card options to those who don’t have a credit score. Below you can compare both Petal cards to each other, as well as against another card that is designed for those who are new to credit.

Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card

★★★★★

Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5

Go to site
Minimum credit score 550
Annual fee $0
Purchase APR 19.99% to 29.49% variable
Balance transfer APR N/A
Rewards 2% - 10% cash back from select merchants
Welcome offer N/A

Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

★★★★★

Finder Rating: 3.1 / 5

Terms apply, see rates & fees

Go to site
Minimum credit score New to credit
Annual fee $0
Purchase APR 12.99% to 26.99% variable
Balance transfer APR N/A
Rewards 1% cashback, 1.25% after six on-time payments and 1.5% after 12 on-time payments, plus 2% - 10% back from select merchants
Welcome offer N/A

Jasper Cash Back Mastercard®

★★★★★

Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5

Terms apply, see rates & fees

Go to site
Minimum credit score New to credit
Annual fee $0
Purchase APR 15.49% to 24.99% variable
Balance transfer APR N/A
Rewards Up to 6% cash back by referring friends. Start with 1% and get an extra 1% for a full year for every friend you bring on board
Welcome offer N/A

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I got the card. Now what?

• Spend responsibly and pay off your balance in full at the end of each month.
• Use the accompanying Petal app regularly to see the state of your finances and spending habits and to develop better financial awareness.
• Set up autopay in your Petal account to ensure you never miss any payments.

Bottom line

The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card has no associated fees and can help you learn to use credit responsibly. And the addition of a cashback structure makes this card an even more appealing option than before. It’s a good choice if you don’t have a credit score but feel like you’re a responsible borrower.