Best rewards for fair credit
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards
Capital One · Unsecured
- Annual fee
- $39
- Purchase APR
- 29.99%
- Deposit
- None
- Min. score
- 580
Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
Approval odds
Fair
What works
- Considers banking history, not just your FICO score
- No fees beyond interest
- Higher starting limits than most subprime cards
What to watch
- Rewards only at select merchants
- Requires linking a bank account
- APR is high at the top of the range
The full terms
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 27.24% – 34.74% variable |
| Security deposit | None required |
| Credit limit | $300 – $5,000 |
| Minimum score | 520+ (No credit / Poor) |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Reports to | Experian, Equifax, TransUnion |
| Upgrade path | May be offered an upgrade to Petal 2 with responsible use |
| Pre-qualification | Yes — soft pull, no impact to your score |
Who this card suits
Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® is aimed at people in the no credit / poor range. It's unsecured, so no deposit is tied up — but that convenience is paid for through the annual fee and a higher APR. Check whether a secured card would cost you less overall.
Using it to actually raise your score
- Pay on time, every time. Payment history is the biggest single factor in your FICO score. Set autopay for at least the minimum.
- Keep utilisation low. Stay under 30% of your limit, ideally under 10%. On the starting limit of $300 that's $90 and $30 respectively.
- Don't chase more cards yet. Every application is a hard inquiry. Let this one age.
- Watch for the review. May be offered an upgrade to Petal 2 with responsible use Keep the account clean until then.
Before you apply. Rates, fees and deposit requirements are set by the issuer and change often. Confirm the current terms on the issuer's own application page — the figures here were last reviewed 2026-08-24 and are not a guarantee of the terms you'll be offered.
Also consider
Similar unsecured cards
Best unsecured, no deposit
Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card
Mission Lane · Unsecured
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase APR
- 26.99%
- Deposit
- None
- Min. score
- 540
No rewards on the base card
Approval odds
Good
Best for predictable payments
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
Cross River Bank · Unsecured
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase APR
- 14.99%
- Deposit
- None
- Min. score
- 560
Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase after you pay
Approval odds
Fair